Make security event logs ready for detection

What this guide helps achieve

• Define events
• Protect records
• Correlate signals
• Test detection

Step-by-step method

1. 01

   Choose sources

   Start from services and threat scenarios: sign-in, privilege change, data access, API, network and infrastructure. Define required events and their owners.

   Deliverable: source-level logging policy.

2. 02

   Normalize context

   Specify clocks, time zones, request identifiers, actor, outcome and originating system. Keep unnecessary secrets and personal data out of messages.

   Deliverable: event schema and minimization rules.

3. 03

   Centralize and protect

   Test transfer, availability, permissions, retention and tamper detection. A compromised system should not silently erase the only useful evidence.

   Deliverable: transfer and integrity check.

4. 04

   Correlate a scenario

   Rehearse a suspicious sign-in followed by an API call or sensitive change. Verify that events align by time and identifier.

   Deliverable: reconstructed timeline and gap list.

5. 05

   Tune detection

   Write a rule with condition, threshold, exceptions, owner and priority. Measure false positives and missed events using authorized scenarios.

   Deliverable: tested rule and validation cases.

6. 06

   Rehearse response

   Route an alert to the responsible person, open an investigation, preserve evidence and verify closure. Improve schema or rule after the exercise.

   Deliverable: dated exercise and follow-up actions.

Management indicators

Common pitfalls

• Collecting everything without prioritizing scenarios
• Logging secrets or sensitive data in clear text
• Centralizing without integrity and permission checks
• Adding alerts without a handling procedure